H. Upmann Coronas 1980
Dimensions: 5.63 inches by 42-ring gauge
Country of fabrication: Cuba
Year issued: 1980
Date reviewed: Thursday October 9th, 2008
Total session time: Approximately 1 hour
Setting: A moderately warm, breezy and sunny autumn afternoon on the back porch.
Accompanying beverages: Boulard Calvados Pays d'Auge X.O. (40% alcohol by volume) and a tall glass of still, filtered water. The Calvados proved a well-nigh perfect match, its weight and apple-derived flavours pairing seamlessly with those of the cigar.
Wrapper: A melding of light cocoa and raw sienna with isolated burnt umber streaks, giving off a slight sheen in the sunlight.
Binder: Sanguin-toned dark cocoa.
Filler leaves: Darker overall than the wrapper leaf. Burnt sienna through cocoa to Van Dyke brown.
Box press: A fair degree for a Habanos.
Finger feel: Decidedly firm.
Roll density: Highly compact.
Ash: Pale to medium grey. Solid.
Pre-light fragrance: Old cedar boxes and mature tobacco. Pearskin.
Pre-light draw: Clean, uplifted tobacco crisply counterpointed by cedar. A dash of white pepper and mint.
Palate entry: Immediate onset of medium bodied tobacco layered between enlivening strata of cardamom, chives and cedar. An elusive hint of something fruit-like in nature - though not overtly sweet at this point - as well.
Early stages: Tobacco and cedar fusing into a homogeneous whole, with green tea and spice elements flitting about the perimeter. Remarkably lively flavour for such a venerable cigar.
Mid portion: Now, the central core of tobacco acquired greater weight, even evidencing a faint touch of residual tannins. The more expansive mouth feel was accompanied by the appearance of toastier notes with nuances of leather, while the beautifully lingering aftertaste evoked sensations of rye grains and lentils. Toasted tobacco surged back to prominence toward the close.
Latter stages: Gradual increase in intensity as the various flavour aspects coalesced underneath the umbrella of vibrant tobacco. A hint of honeyed sweetness emerged alongside.
Analysis: Despite my best efforts, I feel sorely unable to fully convey the true complexity and harmony of this very fine Coronas. Suffice it to say that it came very close to sheer perfection. And another quite amazing aspect of this particular cigar centered around the impression that it seemed to have many more years of development ahead of it. Can you imagine? ... A 28-year old youngster with plenty of room yet to grow.
Afterthoughts: For a brief moment, this cigar experience prompted me to imagine that autumn had somehow reversed course, and that summer might once again be in the offing... Magic indeed!
